Shooting death investigated

By Frank Lewis

December 30, 2013

Frank Lewis

PDT Staff Writer

A Portsmouth man is dead, and authorities are investigating his death as a possible shooting after they found what appeared to have been a gunshot wound. The victim of the shooting has been identified as Sherman D. Martin, 45, of Ohio 139 in Portsmouth.

Scioto County Sheriff Marty V. Donini said his office received a 911 call at around 11:11 p.m. Sunday. Donini said the caller told the sheriff’s dispatch that a male subject was on the back porch of a residence located at 3171 Ohio 139, in Portsmouth, and it appeared that he had been shot.

Donini said deputies along with detectives and emergency medical services responded to the scene. That, he said, is where officers observed a male subject with what appeared to be a gunshot wound lying on the back porch of that residence. Emergency medical services then transported the victim to Southern Ohio Medical Center where he was later pronounced deceased.

According to the official sheriff’s report, Martin’s body has been sent to Montgomery County for an autopsy. Coroner investigators with the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office are responsible for obtaining information surrounding deaths reported to the Office of the Coroner. The Coroner’s Office employs eight forensic medico legal investigators who are specially trained in death investigation.

Donini said, after contacting the Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCI&I), that agency responded to the crime scene with agents to assist his officers who are currently investigating that crime.

While the incident is still under investigation, the sheriff’s office is seeking assistance from anyone with information. Donini said anyone with any information concerning the shooting should contact Scioto County Sheriff’s Detective Jodi Conkel at 740-351-1091.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 252, or at flewis@civitasmedia.com. For breaking news, follow Frank on Twitter @FrankLewisPDT.